Manager Wants Repeat Levels

Manager Simon Grayson is looking for a consistent level of performance and wants a repeat of the work ethic from their league opener.

The Lilywhites travel to Crewe Alexandra on Wednesday night for their Capital One Cup first round tie and the gaffer says that there will not be significant changes to the personnel.

“I am not one for really changing the team second game in,” he said. “Players are still getting up to match speed and still building partnerships. There will be some changes, because a few players got knocks and we won’t play anyone who is a doubt, because we want them fit for Saturday.

“We want to win the match, keep the momentum going and potentially play one of the big hitters in the next round. We are desperate to win the game and whoever comes in will want to do well. We have a group here now who have played large parts for us.

“I have always been one for trying to get continuity at this stage of the season because people are still finding their feet, so I have never been one to make wholesale changes, but you are dictated to a bit by injuries, but given to the fact we have new players it is important they get game time.”

The opponents are a familiar foe for Grayson and co over the past couple of seasons and therefore he is not expecting any surprises from the Railwaymen.

“It’s another game we are looking forward to,” he continued. “We know Crewe well from playing them many times over the past couple of years. We know what to expect and it is a tough tie for us.

“We are looking forward to it. We will assess the whole squad and whoever we select we expect them to go out and perform at the same levels we saw on Sunday.

“They have a way of playing for a number of years; have produced a lot of young players and Steve has a group that will be looking to do well in League One. It will be an opportunity for one or two players who didn’t play Sunday to get a game and we will be looking to get the result.”